GLaDOS's Story: Part B
Chapter Seven
Test Chamber 13 was the first real challenge in the testing track. I had built up complexity up to this point; now I was building up difficulty in addition to complexity.
The test subject entered the test chamber, and I read my script cards to her. "Now that you are in control of both portals, this next test could take a very, very long time. If you become light-headed from thirst, feel free to pass out; an incubation associate will be dispatched to revive you with peptic salve and adrenaline."
The role of the incubation associate would be filled by the Intelligence Dampener Core. He arrived at the test chamber just as I checked on him to see where he was. He proceeded to monitor the test chamber from a peephole cut in the chamber floor next to the catcher.
As I mentioned some time ago, my chassis had been fitted out with four Cores, each of them a feeble attempt by Aperture's human workers to keep me under their control. They were simply plugged into my mainframe, and everything they said aloud was audible to me on my headset and to each other. The four Cores attached to me were Martha Rattmann (the Morality Core), Hannah Jenkins (the Curiosity Core), Sam Leland (the Intelligence Core), and Victor Wesley (the Emotion Core).
The Curiosity Core was the first to respond to my opening message to the test subject. "What's peptic salve?"
"A peptic salve is something that relieves stomach ailments, for example cramps, which can be caused by dehydration."
The Emotion Core spoke next. "So, you're waiting until she collapses from exhaustion before you try to replenish her system with fluids? Is that it?"
"217 test subjects have made it this far (including this one), and only 31 of them needed to be revived during the stretch of challenging tests."
The Intelligence Core took a break from his reading. "That would yield a ratio of one out of every seven test subjects."
"Those are pretty good odds, considering that about one out of every six test subjects wasn't able to safely complete Test Chambers 06 through 11."
The Morality Core got into the discussion. "And yet you've done nothing to improve those odds."
"Yes, I have. I have deactivated the alarms and flashing hazard lights for the High Energy Pellets so that they travel along the correct vector of reflection against non-organic matter. I have installed a drop in the chamberlock of Test Chamber 05 to demonstrate the purpose of the Advanced Knee Replacements. And I have engineered the test chambers to provide space for test subjects to prepare for sliding into walls after making a fling."
"I was thinking along the lines of not having deadly hazards like High Energy Pellets or pits flooded with toxic waste; the test subjects can last longer without those hazards."
"All of the test chambers are solvable with these hazards. In fact, Test Chambers 13 through 18 each have more than one solution."
The Emotion Core heaved a soft growl. "And yet only one test subject even made it to Test Chamber 18."
"Well, I cannot help it if the test subjects don't know what they are doing despite my best efforts to show them the ropes."
The Morality Core banged her head on her seat back. "You can at least eliminate the High Energy Pellets and pitfall flood hazards."
"Why should I? Seeing how test subjects meet their demise demonstrates the likelihood of any one person being able to survive a situation like this."
"And how exactly would this be implemented in the real world? The only thing that looks to be planned for being put out there is the portal gun."
"The hazards are built to mimic what exists on the surface so as to demonstrate how well the portal gun can be utilized by surface dwellers."
"And how is that supposed to work if no one makes it through the test track alive?"
"It is all about knowing what to do and how to do it, as well as being able to do it. Perhaps a sliver of good fortune would be necessary as well, but that should not be an issue."
"So far, nobody's been able to do it all the way to the end."
"And there are still many more test subjects waiting to go through this after her."
"If it's anything like most other tests have been, she'll most likely get killed in Test Chamber 17."
It was at that point that the test subject reached the chamberlock of Test Chamber 13. I promptly read off my script cards to her. "As part of a previously mentioned required test protocol, we can no longer lie to you; when the testing is over, you will be missed."
"That's a reeeeally vague context you're implying there."